Yeah still cannondales I think, the mavic car isn't as useful in the tdf where most riders have massive teams but it can help riders on long breakaways etc when the team car is way behind. It's just a neutral service vehicle offering help to any rider, wouldn't say it was strange?

I think it's got a bigger role in smaller races where you don't have huge teams behind each rider. Suppose even in the tdf a rider is going to be happier riding 10 minutes on a badly sized aluminium bike with toe clips than sitting on the side of the road!

Thanks for that , just had a discussion on a ride tonight that It would seem strange that you didn't ride the whole 21 stages on a certain bike If for example you did the last 10km on a mavic/cannondale bike.

Sounds like the neutral bikes are only ever used very occasionally and very briefly, until they can get a spare team bike, but as others have said if a rider has mechanical when the team car can't get to them (eg in a breakaway on narrow mountain roads), then the quick change to a neutral bike hopefully avoids the race being decided by mechanicals not riders.

Also interesting that as well as pedals, they record which teams are on which groupset to make sure rear wheels are compatible, so they can get the right wheel without needing to check with the rider first - saves a few seconds I suppose.